ASID Opens Submissions for 2019 ASID Foundation Research Grant Program

8/1/2019

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ASID Foundation (ASIDF) Research Grants Support Design Projects That Provide Actionable Results for the Design Community

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has opened submissions for the ASID Foundation (ASIDF) Research Grant Program. Aimed at supporting research projects that benefit the entire design community, the program seeks proposals that will provide empirical data and actionable design principles for industry professionals and clients. The ASIDF Research Grant Program RFP is now accepting submissions through September 13, 2019.

“The ASIDF Research Grant Program actively encourages and advances the interaction between research and practice,” explains Randy Fiser, Hon. FASID, CEO, ASID. “By funding this program, ASIDF is supporting invaluable projects that will benefit every facet of the design industry, including the individuals inhabiting these spaces. We look forward to evaluating this year’s submitted proposals and demonstrating how design research impacts lives. ”

Proposed research projects should address critical gaps and/or future advances in industry knowledge, elevate the value of design, and demonstrate the impact of interior design for the benefit of all. Submissions must include an applicable project category, methodology, expected outcome and application, budget, timeline, and dissemination and contingency plan. Four research grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded, and chosen projects will be developed into an educational resource shared with the design community.

The ASID Foundation research committee prioritized four topics of interest, however, proposals focused on other topics may be considered if they are identified as pertinent to the practice. The four topics are:

RESEARCH TOPIC #1: DESIGN FOR MINDFULNESS

The inability to disconnect from everything from work to technology is causing a dramatic increase in stress levels amongst workers today, with 70 percent reporting that they feel overwhelmed daily. Burnout is estimated to cost $125-190 billion per year in healthcare spending in the U.S. To help people function at higher levels and feel refreshed, some companies are creating quiet zones, tech-free days or blocking emails from passing through their servers during off-hours. How can the design of the physical environment further enable mindfulness?

RESEARCH TOPIC #2: DIVERGENT CREATIVITY | CO-CREATION

As we shift away from “incremental productivity,” where the focus is on getting things done faster, better, and cheaper, a new model is emerging that drives game-changing creations that break through boundaries. “Divergent creativity” leverages imagineering and co- creation, especially when everyone is able to contribute, and leads to inclusive ideation and speed to innovation. How can design foster divergent creativity, especially in collaborative work?

‘Imperiled people’ includes people fleeing not only natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and drought, but also economic and political upheaval in their countries. Spaces that are temporarily occupied by this population in the midst of natural, financial, or political crises can provide resiliency during times of upheaval. Design should be used to impact all lives: how can design create spaces that humanize populations of imperiled peoples, and what attributes of environments can propel humane alternatives?

RESEARCH TOPIC #4: MEASURING THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THROUGH POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATIONS

Increasingly, the role of interior design is being recognized; however, projects still lack measurable outcomes that demonstrate the value of design on how it impacts lives. Pre-/ post-occupancy evaluations (P/POE) can become a powerful tool to not only inform design using research and other evidence, but also develop further evidence to build a body of knowledge for future projects. Additionally, P/POEs can provide valuable and competitive information on the return on investment for clients. How can P/POEs demonstrate and enhance the value of design?

About ASID

The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and human-centric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.

ASID was founded over 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal.